MARKRAM HAILS PROTEAS BOWLERS AFTER HISTORIC WORLD CUP SEMI WIN

Proteas captain Aiden Markram has hailed an “exceptional performance” from his bowling unit that powered his team to their first-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.

A combination of pace, swing and spin helped the Proteas rout Afghanistan for just 56 - their record lowest total in T20Is - before the batters cruised home by nine wickets with 67 balls to spare at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.

It was also the Proteas’ first victory in a World Cup semi-final across white-ball formats since 1992. They now await the winner of the second semi-final between India and England (Thursday, 16:30 SAST) to determine who they will face at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday (16:30 SAST).

Betway SA20 Season 2 leading wicket-taker Marco Jansen (3/16) rocked Afghanistan in the very first over when he had the tournament’s leading run-scorer Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught by Reeza Hendricks at slip.

After an over of left-arm spin from Durban’s Super Giants captain Keshav Maharaj, the Afghans were pegged further back when Jansen clean bowled Gulbadin Naib in his next.

With Afghanistan already pegged back against the ropes, MI Cape Town spearhead Kagiso Radada was introduced into the attack. Rabada (2/14) enjoyed immediate success when he delivered two brilliant deliveries that ripped through the defences of Ibrahim Zandran and Mohammed Nabi to rattle their timber in a double-wicket maiden over.

Afghanistan’s woes were further compounded when Jansen had Nangeyalia Kharote caught down the leg-side by Quinton de Kock to leave Rashid Khan’s team in tatters at 28/5 by the close of the Powerplay.

There was no respite once the fielding restrictions were lifted with Pretoria Capitals express Anrich Nortje (2/7) snaring two further scalps before Paarl Royals wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi completed the demolition job with figures of 3/6 in 1.5 overs.

The Proteas men's first-ever World Cup semi-final triumph was lead by the bowling quartet of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi - while Keshav Maharaj bowled a tight over up-front too.

“Tonight was an exceptional performance by the whole bowling unit,” Markram said. “The pitch was obviously quite challenging as we saw, but you do still have to get the ball in the right area. You give credit to your bowlers... they've used the conditions really well and managed to get us into a winning position.”

Markram continued with his glowing praise, claiming that this was no once-off bowling performance.

“The bowlers, not just today, but the whole competition, they've been really good. Probably saving the batters on certain occasions, but conditions I would say have been in their favour,” he said.

“But even if you say that, they still have to get it done right. And that's exactly what they've been doing for us game in and game out. So, you have to give a lot of appreciation towards them. They've been really good for us.”

Having watched Jansen excel whilst playing together for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Markram was thrilled that the lanky seamer could deliver in the crunch moments for the national team too.

“I'm really chuffed for him. He's still a really young guy, and I think people forget that. He's done incredibly well. He's got a lot of heart and passion and loves playing for his country and tends to do pretty well in big games for us and steps up sort of when the moment needs him to. I'm really happy for him that he had a good day out. And I'm sure it'll give him a bit of confidence going into the final,” he said.

The skipper took the batting responsibility upon himself after De Kock’s early dismissal during the run chase. Along with Joburg Super Kings opener Hendricks, the pair battled through the testing batting conditions to steer the Proteas home in 8.5 overs with 23 not out and 29 not out respectively.

"Yeah, it was quite tough," Markram said about the pitch. "I mean, a batter is not going to lie to you and say that once you get it up and down, it doesn't play a role in your mind.

"But we knew it was a matter of a partnership, taking this thing out a bit up front. Had a bit of luck once again, which we're fortunate for, and managed to get a bit of a partnership. And from there, it's going to be a little bit easier. Chuffed to have got it over the line."

Markram also admitted that the enormity of being the first Proteas Men’s team to reach a World Cup final had not sunk in just yet.

“Probably hasn't, no. The bits that we're realising now, it's obviously a really nice feeling, really good feeling. This team's been together for a long time now as a white-ball group, both formats, and it's nice for us to get to a final.

“We feel and we believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies. And it's nice for us to now have that opportunity and make it into a final. It’s a pleasing feeling but more importantly the group of guys there in the changing room, I’m extremely happy for all of them.”